Work

Enhancing methane yield from microalgae: abiotic stress and cells disruption with quartz powder

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: • Simple alternative to equipment-intensive homogenization techniques. • Effective microalgal cells content release for anaerobic digestion. • 86% increase in BMP for abiotic-stressed and quartz-treated M. contortum biomass. This study investigates the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of microalgal biomass, introducing a novel cells disruption method using quartz powder (SiO 2 ). A two-phase algae cultivation, involving nitrogen deprivation and salinity shifts, was employed to biochemically modify the biomass of two brackish green algae strains, Chlorella vulgaris and Monoraphidium contortum , enhancing their methane (CH 4 ) production potential. Mechanical disruption of the algal cells further increased BMP, with C. vulgaris yielding 305 mL CH 4 /g volatile solids (VS) and M. contortum reaching 324 mL CH 4 /g VS, reflecting respective increases of 51 % and 86 %. The integration of this efficient mechanical cell disruption method with a simple, stress-based cultivation strategy presents significant potential for enhancing the methane yield of microalgal biomass.

Source: Bioresource Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131511

Authors: Marek Klin, Andrzej Lewicki, Filip Pniewski, Adam Latała

Institutions: University of Gdańsk, Poznań University of Life Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,740